Influence-generator of electricity



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. KEN.

INFLUENCE GENERATOR OF ELECTRICITY.

Patented Aug. 2, 1892.

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(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2. W HENRY INFLUENCE GENERATOR 0F ELECTRICITY.

Patented Aug. 2, 1892.

UNTTED STATES \VILLIAM HENRY, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

INFLUENCE-GENERATOR OF ELECTRICITY.

SPECIFICATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 479,941, dated August2, 1892.

Application filed May 29, 1891.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HENRY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Detroit, in the county of Vayne and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Generators,of which the following is a specification, reference being had thereinto the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in electricalgenerators; and the invention consists in the peculiar construction,arrangement, and combination of different parts whereby dynamicelectricity in any desired form of current is generated by means ofstatical induction, all as more fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved generator,partly in vertical section. Fig. 2 is a section on line LE 0;, Fig. 1,looking toward the left of the machine. Fig. 3 is a similar erosssectionon line 3 looking toward the right of the machine. Fig. 4 is a detachedperspective view of one of the sector-wheels of the revolving armature.Fig. 5 is a section on line to to, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detachedperspective view of one of the inducing-sectors. Fig. 7 is a detachedperspective view showing the means of clamping the inducing-sectors inposition. Fig. 8 is a cross-section on line r o in Fig. 3.

A is a bed-plate.

B are supporting-standards.

O are suitable hearings, in which the shaft D of the armature isjournaled, and E is a pulley for revolving it.

The armature has a series of insulated metallic sectors F, radiallysecured in planes at right angles to the armature-shaft, there be ingone or more in each plane, the drawings showing four of such sectors ineach plane placed equidistant apart. In the preferred construction(shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5) these sectors are united in pairs atthe base by a segmental circular bridge a, which has a stem Z) forsecuring them into the hub. Each sector is preferably made ofsuitablythick sheet metal of a kind best adapted for inductive purposesand is secured upon a spoke a, which unites it firmly to the bridge a.The sectors are made as light as possible,

Serial No. 394.519. (No model.)

of equal thickness throughout, and finished smoothly with rounding edgesand corners.

The hub consists of two disks 0 c of insulating material, between whichthe stems b are removably and adj ustably clamped in any suitablemanner, as by means of the clamping-spiders (Z d, one of which isprovided with a bushing e, which secures the hub upon thearmature-shaft. The bridges to fit the periphery ot' the hub and form acommutator for taking off direct currents, as more fully hereinafterdescribed. Four pairs of sectors thus form a wheel, of which the twoopposite pairs of sectors are brought in electric connection with eachother, such as by means of metallic strips 6', one on each side, whichpass over on the sides of the hub out of contact with other metallicparts. The armature consists of any desired number of thesesector-wheels adjustably secured upon the shaft, so that they may begrouped in different ways. This grouping depends upon the kind ofelectrical effect to be desired. If a direct uniform current is desiredto be obtained, I arrange them so that the sectors or pairs of sectorsare grouped spirally around the shaft, as shown in the drawings, wherebyin an end projection of the armature the sectors are equally distributedaround the shaft, or substantially so. This armature revolves within astationary electric field formed by inductors II, which are secured inposition from the frame in any suitable manner, such as by means oflongitudinal bars I, which are secured between two vertical standards Jof glass (covered with shellac) or of some other suitable insulatingmaterial. The inductors II are of similar form and construction as thearmature-sectors and arranged in planes at right angles to thearmature-shaft equidistant between the armature-sectors and inlongitudinal line with each other, so that in an end projection thesectors of one plane cover all the sectors in the other planes. Theinductors II are preferably constructed in pairs, substantially in themanner described for the sectors of the armature, and provided with astem f at the base, by means of which they are adj ustably secured toapertured holding-clamps g, which are secured by set-screws or otherwiseupon the bars I, the latter being preferably secured detachably and adjustably, such as after the manner of securing the bars M M, as shown inFig.1. The inductors H may thus be individually as well as collectivelyadjusted, it being necessary for the proper operation of the machinethat the planes in which the sectors of the armature and fieldrespectively are secured should be exactly parallel to each other andequidistant apart, alternating with each other in the longitudinaldirection of the shaft, and that the inductive phases of all the sectorsof each sector-wheel in relation to the adjacent inducingsectors shouldbe precisely the same. The inductors H are rounded off at theinner end,as shown, and project within a suitable distance toward the hub of thearmature. All the edges and corners are rounded off, and the outer endsof each longitudinal series of in ductors are covered overorscreened bya metallic plate K, extending the Whole length, all external surfacesbeing smoothly finished, and the diametrically-opposite series ofinductors (which are to be of like electrification) are electricallyconnected, as shown, and to reduce the loss from electric radiation theexternal surfaces of the inductors are coated or covered with someinsulating material.

The segmental circular bridges a bet ween each pair of armature-sectorsform a direct current-commutator for each sector-wheel, and thesecommutators are provided with two sets of brushes L and L, which arearranged in the open spaces between the inductors and adj ustablysecured in any suitable manner to the longitudinal bars M M, which arein turn secured adjustably and removably to the heads J by passingthrough enlarged apertures therein or in any other suitable manner. Eachset of brushes is electrically connected by means of the longitudinalbars M M or in any other suitable manner, and binding-posts are providedin metallic connection with the bars M M, to which the terminals of anexterior work-circuit N are secured and in which the translating ortransforming devices are placed.

The inducing-sectors are preferably kept electrified from an exteriorsource, (not shown,) and this may be a statical generator of any knownconstruction and driven by suitable means adapted to regulate the speedthereof; but, if desired, the machine may be made to maintain theelectrification of the inductors while in operation in the followingmanner: One or more of the sector-wheels, preferably those at one orboth ends of the shaft, may be provided with comm utator-coutacts oflesser length than the commutatorcontacts of the other sector-wheels, asshown in Fig. 2, and in addition two brushes or traveling contacts P Pare secured to these armature-sectors.

In practice the machine, being constructed as shown and described, isintended to operate as follows: The sectors II are electrified by beingconnected to a suitable static generator to form alternate positive andnegative statical inductors. Thus when there are four sectors in eachplane there will be two positive and two negative inductors, which arerespectively diametricallyopposite each other, as indicated by the signsin Figs. 2 and 3. Starting from the position shown in Figs 2 and S, (inwhich the armature-sectors are midway between the inducing-sectors withthe armature rotating in the direction of the arrow,) it will be seenthat two of the armaturesectors are approaching positively-electrifiedinductors and two are approaching negative inductors. As thearmature-sectors rovolve in planes parallel with and in close proximityto the inducing-sectors, the armature-sectors become polarized duringtheir approach; but as the armature-sectors are electrically conncctedbythe circuit N through the brushes L and L, as shown, a how ofelectricity will take place through the circuit Nto wit, positiveelectricity will flow out of the armature-sectors approaching thepositive inductors and at the same time flow into the armature-sectorsapproaching the negative i11- ductors and become bound therein. As soonas the armature-sectors begin to recede from the inductors justapproached the positive electricity that had become bound is now setfree and flows through the circuit N into the sectors that becamenegative while approaching and becomes bound therein; but as thearmature-sectors also change contact at the same instant with theterminal brushes of the exterior circuit the current will How in thesame direction exteriorly as the armaturesectors now approach inductorsof opposite electrification and the current will continue to flow(without any change of contact with the brushes) until the sectors havefully approached the inductors toward which they are moving. Thus whilehalf of the armature-sectors F are passing from a positive inductor tothe next negative inductorthey will receive positive electricity fromthe terminal brush of the external circuit, with which they are inelectrical contact, and at the same time the other half of thearmaturesectors will be discharging positive electricity into the otherterminal brush of the external circuit while they are passing from anegative inductor to the next positive inductor. As the armaturesectorsdo not approach to or withdraw from the inducing-sectors simultaneouslyon account of the spiral arrangement of the sectors F, the flow ofelectricity through the circuit N is made practically uniform andcontinuous and will produce effects which can be utilized by translatingor transforming devices the same as a direct current generated bymagnetic induction or by a galvanic battery.

If the machine is made to self-maintain the electrification of theinductors after the manner described, the armature-sectors having theshortened contacts, as shown in Fig. 2, have their electrificat-ionsmaintained by breaking contact with the brushes L and L a little beforethe point at which they pass the inductors by which they have beenelectrified, and when midwaybetween the inductors are, by the brushes Pand P, brought in electrical connection with the inductors, toward whichthey approach. Thus their in aintained electrifications will becommunicated to the inductors.

By the peculiar construction and arrangement of the armature and fieldsectors loss from internal discharge is avoided, which in this class ofmachines is a point of the utmost importance. It is also a matter ofimportance to adjust the sectors in their proper relation to each other,and this adjustment can be effected in my construction, which alsoaffords great facility for repairing or renewing any defective partWithout dismounting the machine.

Instead of electrically connecting the opposite pairs ofarmature-sectors four sets of brushes may be employed, and it will alsobe understood that it is not necessary to construct the sectors inpairs. By constructing in this manner greater facility is obtained forsecuring them firmly in position. I, however, do not limit myself to anyspecific construction.

To prevent overcharging, a suitable governor may be provided, such asshown in the drawings, in which R R are two balls electrically connectedto the positive and negative inductors, respectively, and metallicpoints T are arranged in adjustable proximity to these balls. ThepointsT may be either grounded or connected by a suitable conductor orconnected to the line-wire, as shown in the drawings. If the fields thenbecome overcharged, a discharge will take place between the balls andthe adjacent points, and thus reduce the charge of the fields. Byadjusting the inducing-sectors inwardly, so as to project more or lessbetween the armature-sectors, or by adjusting the points T from ortoward the balls R R of the governor the intensity or quality of thecurrent may be increased or decreased, while the quantity may beregulated by regulating the speed of the armature.

From this description the scope of my invention will be clearlyunderstood to comprise, broadly, an electrical generator in whichdynamic-current effects are produced in a work circuit or conductor-bymaking said conductor a medium through which electric impulses of highfrequency are transmitted, said electric impulses being produced bymeans of statical induction between two groups of metallic bodies, onegroup of which forms an electrified field of alternate positive andnegative statioal inductors, while the other group moves in inductiveproximity thereto.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In an electric generator, thecombination of two groups of insulated metallic bodies, one forming astatically-electrified field of positive and negative inductors and theother group adapted to become polarized at intervals by moving ininductive relation to said inductors, and an exterior work-circuithaving connecting devices electrically connecting the induced bodiesreceding from a negative inductor and approaching to a positiveinductor, with the induced bodies receding from a positive inductor andapproaching to a negative inductor during their polarizations,substantially as described.

2. In an electric generator, the combination of two groups of insulatedmetallic sectors, one statically electrified to form positive andnegative inductors and the other adapted to move in inductive relationthereto, the sectors of the two groups being arranged in relativelydifferent inductive proximity to each other, whereby polarization takesplace in the induced sectors at different moments of time, substantiallyas described.

3. The combination, in an electric generator, of two groups of insulatedmetallic sectors arranged radially around a common axis, one adapted toform a statically-electrified field of positive and negativeelectrification and the other adapted to revolve within said field, thetwo groups of sectors being arranged in alternating planes parallel witheach other and equidistant apart and with portions of the sectors of thetwo groups in relative different inductive proximity to each other, acommutator and brushes for each portion of moving sectors having thesame relative inductive proximity to the inducing-sectors and formingthe positive and negative poles thereof during their phases ofpolarization by the inducing-sectors, and an exterior circuitelectrically connecting all the brushes, substantially as described.

4. In an electrical generator, the combination of a group of insulatedmetallic sectors arranged radially around a central axis and adapted toform a stationary electrified field of positive and negative inductors,an armature arranged to revolve within said field and composed of ashaft, and a series of sector-wheels adjustably grouped upon said shaftand consisting of an insulating-hub and metallic sectors radiallysecuredthereto in planes at right angles to the shaft, substantially asdescribed.

5. In an electrical generator, the combination of a group of insulatedmetallic sectors arranged radially around a central axis and adapted toform a statically-electrifiecLfield of positive and negative inductors,an "ar mature adapted to revolve within said field and composed of agroup of like sectors secured to insulating-hubs upon the shaft of saidarmature and forming sectorwheels adapted to be independently adjustedupon said shaft, and commutators, one for each sector-wheel, formed uponthe hub of each sector-wheel, substantially as described.

6. In an electrical generator, the combination of a group of stationaryinducing-sectors of positive and negative statical electrification,

IIO

IIS

a group of movable sectors secured to a revolving shaft in alternatingplanes between said stationary sectors, commutator and brushes formingthe positive and negative poles of the movable sectors during theirphases of polarizations, an exterior work-circuit connecting such poles,and a governor for regulating the inductive influence of theinducingsectors, substantially as described.

7. In an electrical generator, the combina tion of stationaryinducing-sectors of positive and negative statical electrification,movable sectors secured by insulating-hubs to a revolving shaft andforming sector-Wheels spirally grouped upon said shaft in inductiverelation between the stationary sectors, a commutator and brushes foreach sector-wheel and forming the positive and negative poles thereof atcoincident phases of polarization, an exterior work circuit connectingsuch poles, and a governor for regulating the inductive influence of thestationary sectors, substantially as described.

8. In an electrical generator, the combination of stationary sectors ofpositive and negative statical electrification, movable sectors securedto arcvolving shaft in inductive relation between the stationarysectors, connecting devices whereby the differently-induced movablesectors are electrically united during coincident phases ofpolarization, and connecting devices between a portion of the stationaryand movable sectors for maintaining the electrification of the inducingsectors, substantially as described.

9. In an electrical generator, the combination of the revolving shaft,the sector-wheels adjustably secured upon said shaft, a commutator foreach sector-wheel, a pair of brushes for each commutator, an exteriorwork-circuit connecting all the brushes, stationary sectors radially andadjustably secured in inductive proximity between the sector-wheels, anda governor for regulating the inductive influence in the stationarysectors, said governor being connected into an exterior circuit,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM HENRY.

Witnesses:

M. B. ODOGHERTY, N. L. LINDOP.

